Chapter 3901
If Lucas weren’t afraid of the beating his mother might give him later, he would have already run off to play with Sonny.
Meanwhile, Chelsea couldn’t resist snooping. She opened Sonny’s small suitcase and began rifling through it with a critical eye.
Aside from Sonny’s clothes and a few toys, there wasn’t much inside.
“Where’s the seafood? Auntie loves seafood! Didn’t your mom pack a big bag for me to take home?” she asked, her voice tinged with annoyance.
She then turned her attention to three gift boxes stacked neatly nearby, reaching for them.
Hank intervened immediately, his tone sharp. “Don’t touch those. They’re Sonny’s. They’re for his health.”
Chelsea froze, momentarily taken aback by her brother’s tone. Hank’s patience with her antics had long since run out. He no longer tolerated her behavior, and she knew better than to push him too far—especially since she still relied on the occasional favor from her family.
Reluctantly, she backed off, sulking as Hank carried the gift boxes into the room and slammed the door behind him.
Neither Mr. nor Mrs. Brown said a word, their silence heavy in the air.
Realizing there was no chance of claiming the gift boxes for herself, Chelsea returned to Sonny, trying once more to cozy up to him. She reached out for a hug, but Sonny leaned away, burrowing deeper into his grandfather’s lap.
“Grandpa,” Sonny said firmly, “I don’t want Auntie to hug me.”
Mr. Brown shot a warning glare at his daughter.
Chelsea withdrew her hand, looking more than a little embarrassed. “Sonny, why are you like this? What did I do wrong? I used to hold you all the time when you were a baby. I loved you so much.”
Sonny looked up at her, unimpressed.
“Auntie, I’m not three anymore. You can’t fool me.”
Chelsea opened her mouth but couldn’t find the words to reply.
Changing her approach, she pouted. “Sonny, why didn’t you bring me anything for the New Year? You only bought gifts for Grandpa and Grandma, but not for me. The New Year is almost here, you know. You could have gotten me something nice, like a big seafood package. Why not call your mom now and ask her to send a few over? Then you can give one to me as a New Year gift. What do you think?”
Before Sonny could respond, Mr. Brown’s expression darkened, and he snapped at his daughter.
“Chelsea, do you have no shame at all? Why on earth did I raise someone so shameless?”
Chelsea flinched, but he continued.
“Sonny is a child. He’s your nephew, not someone responsible for getting you gifts! You’re his aunt—have you even thought about preparing a New Year gift for him? And what about me and your mother? Did you bring anything for us?”
His voice grew angrier as he pressed on.
“Sonny’s mother is wealthy because she’s capable. That doesn’t mean you’re entitled to anything she has. Liberty doesn’t owe you a thing! Not now, and not ever!
“Think back to how Liberty treated you when she was married to Hank. Whenever you visited, she would cook whatever you wanted, using money she helped Hank earn. If she hadn’t managed the household, Hank wouldn’t have had a dime to his name.
“She was far too kind to you, and that kindness has turned you into the greedy, entitled person you are today.”
into the greedy, entitled person you have become today. “And now you expect Liberty, your former sister-in-law, to send you New Year gifts? You’ve truly lost your mind. Even if she and Hank were still married, you wouldn’t have the right to behave this way. Yet here you are, returning to your parents’ home empty-handed, attempting to take everything in sight. “Have some self-respect, Chelsea. You’re embarrassing yourself and this family!” Chelsea sat in shocked silence, her father’s words hanging in the air like a heavy burden. Sonny remained quiet, nestled against his grandfather’s chest, as if he understood exactly what had transpired.